New York will ban glass skyscrapers to slash emissions

New York City will ban the construction of ‘inefficient’ all-glass skyscrapers in a bid to cut emissions by 30% before 2030.

The Mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, made the announcement yesterday (April 22) when he unveiled the city’s Green New Deal, which included a range of measures to reduce emissions, tackle climate change and improve energy efficiency.

Glass skyscrapers are particularly inefficient because heat easily escapes through the glass and the deal will also bring in emissions caps for older buildings which could see owners of landmarks such as the Empire State Building fined million dollars a year if they don’t retrofit their buildings, the New York Times reports.

The Mayor said the deal will ‘directly confront’ income inequality, generating tens of thousands of new jobs retrofitting buildings and expanding renewable energy.

The deal also includes a commitment for City Hall to be carbon neutral by 2050 whilst using 100% renewable electricity.

To cut transport emissions, the city will introduce congestion charges to reduce traffic in Manhattan which they believe could improve bus speeds 25% by the end of 2020 whilst generating income for their ‘broken’ subway system.

They will also introduce ‘People Priority Zones’ to restrict vehicles, with a trial beginning in Lower Manhatten before potential expansion across the city.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said: “Every day we wait is a day our planet gets closer to the point of no-return. New York City’s Green New Deal meets that reality head on,

‘We are confronting the same interests that created the climate crisis and deepened inequality. There’s no time to waste. We’re taking action now, before it’s too late.’